Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Survey, 2012

The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 98 (2012), 27–42ISSN 0307-5133

ThebaN harbourS aNd WaTerScapeSSurvey, 2012

By a. Graham, K. d. STruTT, m. a. huNTer, S. JoNeS,

a. maSSoN, m. mIlleT, aNd b. T. peNNINGToN *

The 2012 season in the Theban region ran from 15 February to 4 march and from 20 march to 7 april. The team consisted of the authors of this report, with reis omar Farouk managing the hand augering and our local team of workmen. our mSa inspector was ms Warda el-Najar.

Aims of the survey

The aim of the project is to (re)construct past land- and waterscapes in the Theban region over the last five millennia and to understand the extent to which the ancient egyptians were able to manipulate the dynamic floodplain. recent satellite and cartographic studies combined with photographic archives have clearly revealed the dynamic nature of the river Nile in the Theban region over the last two centuries with the Nile migrating eastwards back towards Karnak since the late 1790s.1 reception platforms (tribunes) at the front of several temples in the Nile valley, including Karnak and medinet habu, are archaeologically attested,2 and textual and pictorial evidence refers to basins, canals, and tribunes associated with a number of Theban

* The Theban harbours and Waterscapes Survey (ThaWS) runs under the auspices of the egypt exploration Society and is funded by the eeS excavation Fund. For their support, we would like to thank: mohammed Ismail and hani ahmed abu el azm at the mSa for their support; mansour boraik (director General of luxor antiquities), mohammed abd el-aziz (director of the West bank, luxor), Fathi yasseen (director of the central area of the West bank, luxor), and abd el-Nasser havez (director of the Southern area of the West bank, luxor); our mSa Inspector Warda el-Najar, for help with access to the paths, tracks, and fields where we carried out our work; at Karnak christophe Thiers (director of cFeeTK), Ibrahim Suleiman (director of Karnak), amin amr (chief of Inspectors at Karnak), and Saleh el-masekh; vincent Tournadre (cFeeTK Topographer); ray Johnson (director of the epigraphic Survey, chicago house); Kent Weeks (director of the Theban mapping project); and hourig Sourouzian and rainer Stadelmann for their collaboration around Kom el-hetan, and all in the ‘memnon team’, particularly christian perzlmeier and Josef dorner; peter lacovara and Joel paulson, for their assistance in the malkata area; alban-brice pimpaud, for discussing the topography of the West bank; ute rummel and daniel polz, for discussing Theban festival processions; reis omar Farouk and his team, for their conscientious work with us this season. Finally, thanks are owed to all the farmers/landowners for allowing access to their paths and fields..

1 J. m. bunbury, a. Graham, and m. a. hunter, ‘Stratigraphic landscape analysis: charting the holocene movements of the Nile at Karnak through ancient egyptian Time’, Geoarchaeology 23/3 (2008), 356; a. Graham, ‘Islands in the Nile: a Geoarchaeological approach to Settlement locations in the egyptian Nile valley and the case of Karnak’, in m. bietak, e. czerny, and I. Forstner-müller (eds), Cities and Urbanism in Ancient Egypt: Papers from a Workshop in November 2006 at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (dGÖaW 60 = uZK 35; vienna, 2010), 130, 133; J. K. hillier, J. m. bunbury, and a. Graham, ‘monuments on a migrating Nile’, Journal of Archaeological Science 34/7 (2007), 1011–15; a.-b. pimpaud, ‘Étude cartographique et topographique en Thébaïde’, in y. Tristant and m. Ghilardi (eds), Archéologie du paysage: L’Égypte et le monde méditerranéen (bde; cairo, forthcoming).

2 h. Jaritz, ‘die Tribünen vor ägyptischen Tempeln der 18. dynastie bis zur römerzeit: ein deutungsversuch zur Funktion’, in p. Jánosi (ed.), Structure and Significance: Thoughts on Ancient Egyptian Architecture (dGÖaW 33 = uZK 25; vienna, 2005), 341–400.

28 a. Graham eT al. JEA 98

temples.3 our survey attempts to locate any basins and canals excavated to connect palaces and temples on the West bank to the Nile, including the enormous basin known today as birket habu.4 on the east bank our work clarifies interpretations of the geomorphological origins and development of the complex of temples at Karnak.5 We are also investigating a further possible lake, ‘birket el-hubeil/birket luxor’ to the southwest of luxor city.6 using geoarchaeological and geophysical techniques, we hope to clarify our understanding of the religious processions between temples, of everyday travel across the floodplain, as well as the logistics of delivering stone and colossal monoliths to temples.

Survey methodology

Electrical Resistivity Tomographyelectrical resistivity Tomography (erT) relies on the passing of an electrical current through the earth and measuring the apparent resistivity to the current at intervals to build up a profile of the varying resistivity caused by different materials below the ground surface, enabling the detection of localised anomalies and features.7 This technique has been used with considerable success in a number of locations and environments.8 during previous surveys in the egyptian Nile valley erT proved a very effective tool for detecting sub-surface features and former channels at Karnak 9 and in the edfu floodplain.10 We used an allied associates Tigre 64-probe system was used to take measurements using an expanding Wenner array.11 The resistance meter is linked to a pc laptop computer, which automatically switches in the correct electrodes for each particular measurement and stores the data. The electrodes consist of a metal probe placed ~5 cm into

3 a. Graham, K. d. Strutt, m. hunter, S. Jones, a. masson, m. millet, and b. pennington, ‘reconstructing landscapes and Waterscapes in Thebes, egypt’, in W. bebermeier, r. hebenstreit, e. Kaiser, and J. Krause (eds), Landscape Archaeology: Proceedings of the International Conference Held in Berlin, 6th–8th June 2012 (eTopoi Journal for ancient Studies Special volume 3; berlin, 2012), 135–42, available online: < http://journal.topoi.org/index.php/etopoi >.

4 b. J. Kemp and d. o’connor, ‘an ancient Nile harbour: university museum excavations at the “birket habu” ’, IJNA 3 (1974), 182.

5 bunbury et al., Geoarchaeology 23; a. Graham, in m. bietak, e. czerny, and I. Forstner-müller (eds), Cities and Urbanism in Ancient Egypt, 125–43; a. Graham, ‘ancient landscapes around the opet Temple, Karnak’, EA 36 (2010), 25–8; a. Graham and J. m. bunbury, ‘The ancient landscapes and Waterscapes of Karnak’, EA 27 (2005), 17–19; a. Graham and J. m. bunbury, ‘pottery from the alluvial environments at Karnak North’, Bulletin de liaison du Groupe international d’étude de la céramique égyptienne 22 (2004), 55–9.

6 a. Graham, ‘ancient Theban Waterways’, EA 38 (2011), 3.7 a. clark, Seeing Beneath the Soil: Prospecting Methods in Archaeology (2nd edn; london, 1996); I. Scollar,

Archaeological Prospecting and Remote Sensing (cambridge, 1990).8 c. Gaffney, ‘detecting Trends in the prediction of the buried past: a review of Geophysical Techniques

in archaeology’, Archaeometry 50 (2008), 321–2; S. Keay, G. earl, S. hay, S. Kay, J. ogden, and K. Strutt, ‘The role of Integrated Geophysical Survey methods in the assessment of archaeological landscapes: The case of portus’, Archaeological Prospection 16 (2009), 159–60, 162; G. m. maillet, e. rizzo, a. revil, and c. vella, ‘high resolution electrical resistivity Tomography (erT) in a Transition Zone environment: application for detailed Internal architecture and Infilling processes Study of a rhône river paleo-channel’, Marine Geophysical Researches 26 (2005), 317–19; m. a. mohamed-ali, T. herbich, K. Grzymski, and r. hobbs, ‘magnetic Gradient and electrical resistivity Tomography Surveys in meroe, the capital city of the Kush Kingdom, Sudan’, Archaeological Prospection 19 (2012), 61, 63–7.

9 Graham, EA 36, 25–8.10 J. m. bunbury, a. Graham, and K. d. Strutt, ‘Kom el-Farahy: a New Kingdom Island in an evolving edfu

Floodplain’, BMSAES 14 (2009), 1–23.11 a. aspinall and J. G. crummett, ‘The electrical pseudosection’, Archaeological Prospection 4 (1997), 37–47;

m. r. bates and c. r. bates, ‘multidisciplinary approaches to the Geoarchaeological evaluation of deeply Stratified Sedimentary Sequences: examples from pleistocene and holocene deposits in Southern england, united Kingdom’, Journal of Archaeological Science 27 (2000), 845–58.

2012 ThebaN harbourS aNd WaTerScapeS Survey, 2012 29

the ground at regular intervals connected to contacts spaced along the cables. low electrical currents are sent between the probes to record the resistivity of sediments below the modern ground surface. resolutions of each profile varied, with probes set at 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, and 4 m spacing according to the length and depth required (see table 1 below). a reading is taken at the centre of four probes chosen by the computer programme starting with probes 1, 2, 3, and 4. The depth at which measurements are taken corresponds approximately to half the distance between the individual probes, for example in p4 the probes were set at 3 m spacing so that readings were taken every 3 m horizontally and every 1.5 m vertically below the ground i.e. at 1.5 m, 3.0 m, 4.5 m etc. The res2dInv software program processed the data and inverted it using a least squares inversion.12 all the erT profiles were geo-referenced and the topographic data was incorporated in processing the profiles.

MagnetometryThe magnetometer survey was conducted using a bartington Instruments Grad 601 dual sensor fluxgate gradiometer. measurements were taken at 0.25 m intervals on 0.5 m traverses with data collected in zigzag fashion. The processing of data (using Geoplot 3.0 software) was necessary to remove any effects produced by broad variations in geology or small-scale localised changes in magnestism of material close to the present ground surface. magnetometry data were despiked to remove extreme magnetic values caused by metal objects. a zero mean traverse function was applied to remove any drift caused by changes in the magnetic field, as was a low pass filter to remove any high frequency readings, and results were interpolated to 0.5 m resolution across the traverse. data from each survey were exported as bitmaps, and imported and georeferenced in arcGIS 10.0, relating to other salient spatial information such as autocad maps of the sites and areas, and relevant air photographic imagery. an interpretation layer of archaeological and modern features was digitised, deriving the nature of the different anomalies in the survey data from their form, extent, size, and other appropriate information.

Topographic survey strategy and controlThe extent of the project necessitated establishing some form of topographic control over the entire area of Thebes, to ensure that all data could be located in a universal coordinate system to as high a level of accuracy as possible. The plan in the 2011 season had been to use a differential GpS (dGpS) to establish a network of survey stations and temporary survey markers using the WGS1984 Geographic coordinate System. however, the curtailment of our 2011 field season, due to the changing political situation in egypt in late January and the temporary impounding of the GpS equipment in transit via cairo, meant it was not possible to establish the control survey. dGpS was not available to the project in our 2012 season, but we hope to conduct a dGpS across the entire survey area in future seasons. erT profiles, magnetometry, and auger sites were surveyed in 3d using the eeS leica Tcr307 Total Station and tied into pre-existing local terrestrial co-ordinate systems where possible. all survey data collected was tied into and finally located in relation to WGS 84 uTm 36N coordinate system, within an arcGIS environment. Through collaboration with archaeological surveyors on other projects in the Theban area, who kindly provided survey control information, we were able to identify, locate, and tie into several project-specific coordinate systems and ground control networks. Joel paulson, surveyor for the Joint expedition to malqata, shared data for the area of the spoil mounds at birket habu and malkata in uTm and for points used by the Theban mapping project (Tmp). Two of these points had previously been tied in by paulson using dGpS enabling the transformation of the Tmp coordinates into WGS 84 uTm 36N. a Tmp coordinate schedule including a schematic diagram of the 1980s Tmp control network, brief station descriptions, and 3d coordinate values was kindly supplied to the project.

12 m. h. loke and T. dahlin, ‘a comparison of the Gauss-Newton and Quasi-Newton methods in resistivity Imaging Inversion’, Journal of Applied Geophysics 49 (2002), 149–62.


at Karnak cFeeTK topographer vincent Tournadre supplied a .dwg file of the Karnak IGN grid control stations, in addition to supplying an excel spreadsheet document containing reciprocal transformations between Karnak IGN, egyptian ‘red belt’, and WGS 84 uTm 36N coordinate systems. cFeeTK also supplied a cad plan of the Karnak temple complex used to contextualise the Karnak transects. provision of these survey stations facilitated setting up an open leg traverse of new survey stations in uTm, enabling the mapping of the survey areas and profiles on the West bank and at Karnak in uTm. The problem with the established network of stations was the lack of any real control, either between the existing survey stations of the different projects and the new stations, or internally within the series of new stations. data was captured in such a way that any error in the survey would be spotted immediately whilst still in the field. locations of all stations and survey areas and profiles were checked using a navigational grade Garmin GpS 76. however, the low level of accuracy of the handset only allowed a rudimentary comparison of the location of survey data between the total station survey and the GpS. Where the re-use of existing terrestrial control networks was not possible (e.g. birket luxor), navigational grade GpS waypoint locations were directly used to tie in the total station survey data of the transect ends to WGS 84 co-ordinates (i.e. for X and y), but the height values were then adjusted using spot heights derived from the Survey of egypt 1:25,000 scale map, as this was considered to be more accurate. The total station survey data included fixed points in the landscape, e.g. the bridge across the canal, where survey control stations were marked so that we are able to relocate the erT profile accurately in future seasons. Navigational grade GpS was also used to verify the survey locations derived from the total station survey on pre-existing archaeological control networks and co-ordinate systems, once they had been transformed into WGS 84 uTm 36N co-ordinates, in arcGIS 10.0. These were also further checked in relation to Google earth satellite imagery, which was also used for field survey planning and preparation. easy GpS (freeware) was used to process the navigational GpS data into .kml files (using WGS84), which could then be imported into arcGIS. roboGeo 6.3.1 was used to produce .kmz reference files for use in Google earth (using WGS84), containing georeferenced and annotated photographs relating to transect and survey control station locations, for potential future use.

Geoarchaeological methodologyThe geoarchaeological work was based on a methodology developed at Karnak using an eijkelkamp hand auger to extract sediment.13 The recovered sediment was studied and recorded in the field in terms of grain size, sorting, roundness, mineralogy (using a hand lens and appropriate sedimentological reference charts), and colour (using a munsell Soil colour chart). a general geological description of the sediment and matrix was also provided along with an estimate of the organic content, and full geological summary logs were then drawn up from the recorded information. The sediment from each sample extracted from the auger head was then wet sieved using a 4 mm and 2 mm mesh, providing two fractions: a small one, from 2–4 mm and a large size one, >4 mm. each of the two fractions from each sample was then weighed and sorted between non-ceramic clasts and ceramic clasts. The non-ceramic clasts were sorted into different species, from a variety of stone types to rhizo-concretions, bone, quartz, mudbrick etc. They were counted and their abrasion and angularity recorded for both fractions of each sample. all non-ceramic and ceramic material is stored appropriately for possible future re-study.

Ceramic methodologyafter the sorting processes described above, the ceramicists studied the ceramics from each sample in sequential order, usually from first to last in retrieval. The material was studied without any knowledge of the sedimentary information recorded, so as not to provide any possible influence in recording of the ceramic material.

13 bunbury et al., Geoarchaeology 23, 359–63; Graham and bunbury, EA 27, 18.


Study of the ceramic fragments included studying them as articlasts, i.e. for any geological/depositional information they may provide. The abrasion of the edges and surfaces of the sherds and their roundness were recorded as they can be a useful indicator of the conditions of transport and deposition.14 In general, all sherds were described as follows: number of pieces; total weight (g); size range in mm; fabric (according to the ceramicists’ system at Karnak); fragment type (rim, base, handle, body); decoration (slip, wash, incisions etc.); technique (handmade, slow wheel, quick wheel); number of edges abraded (recorded as a scale between zero to four, i.e. from none to all edges); abrasion (state of the external and internal surfaces); roundness (from very angular to well-rounded); period; hardness (from very soft to very hard); fabric grain (from very fine to very coarse); comments. The study of each sample was carried out separately, with the small size fraction recorded first as a whole group, then weighed, and as many as possible of the fields listed above completed. The small size of the fragments precluded filling out all criteria accurately, but articlast fields were recorded as a group. Sherds in the larger fraction (>4 mm) were sorted into groups or batches according to their fabric, then each batch was counted, weighed, and described. The number/weight of sherds per sample and the analysis of the state of the sherd proved very informative for the study of the archaeological and natural environment. using both artefactual and articlast information from sherds, it was possible to identify when downhole contamination during the augering process had occurred, ruling out the dating of that material from the chronology of the remaining assemblage. The fabric system is based upon the analysis of the ceramic material originating from stratified settlements in Karnak, excavated from 2001–7.15 The system covers periods from the First Intermediate period to the roman period. It includes several types of Nile clay, marl clay, oasis clay, aswan clay, and imports. Some of these fabrics correspond to the well-known vienna system.16 many of the fabrics are typical from a specific period in the region, or are far more common and have a long chronotype e.g. mKrom (middle Kingdom to the roman period). The surface treatment (‘decoration’) and the technique are also crucial criteria for dating sherds. The typology established from the excavation of these settlements was used in addition to this system of fabric. It helped with the study of the diagnostic sherds (rim, base, handle, decorated sherd, import) and brought even more precision to the dating of some of the samples. each diagnostic sherd was drawn, photographed, and had its own recording sheet including all fields from the batch recording described above, as well as munsell colours of the exterior, interior, slip, fragment description, condition, and comparanda. many samples produced only sherds that were tiny, non-diagnostic, made of very common and long-lasting fabric, sometimes highly rolled. Nonetheless, a relative

14 G. r. rapp and c. l. hill, Geoarchaeology: The Earth-science Approach to Archaeological Interpretation (2nd edn; New haven, 2006), 29, 51–2.

15 É. allaoua, m-d. martellière, a. masson, and m. millet, Le Nouvel Empire au sud-est du lac sacré (cairo, forthcoming); a. masson, Le quartier des prêtres à l’est du lac sacré dans le Temple d’Amon de Karnak (cairo, forthcoming); a. masson, ‘analysing ceramic productions and distribution from various Settlements: preliminary observations on the case of Karnak during the Third Intermediate period and late period’, in a. Tsingarida (ed.), Études d’Archéologie (forthcoming); a. masson, ‘domestic and cultic vessels from the Quarter of priests in Karnak: The Fine line between the profane and the Sacred’, in b bader and m. ownby (eds), Functional Aspects of Egyptian Ceramics within their Archaeological Context: Proceedings of a Conference held at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge, July 24th–July 25th, 2009 (ola 217; leuven, 2012); a. masson, ‘persian and ptolemaic ceramics from Karnak: change and continuity’, CCE 9 (2011), 269–310; a. masson, ‘vivre à la porte du sacré, les maisons des prêtres dans le sanctuaire d’amon’, Les dossiers d’archéologie 16 (2009), 48–55; a. masson, ‘le quartier des prêtres du temple de Karnak: rapport préliminaire de la fouille de la maison vII’, in cFeeTK (ed.), Cahiers de Karnak, 12 (paris, 2007), 593–655; m. millet, Installations antérieures au Nouvel Empire au sud-est du lac sacré du Temple d’Amon de Karnak (phd thesis, university of paris Iv–la Sorbonne; paris, 2008); m. millet, ‘architecture civile antérieure au Nouvel empire: rapport préliminaire des fouilles archéologiques à l’est du lac Sacré 2001–2003’, in cFeeTK (ed.), Cahiers de Karnak 12, 681–743.

16 d. arnold, and J. bourriau, An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Pottery (mainz am rhein, 1993); J. bourriau, p. T. Nicholson, and p. rose, ‘pottery’, in p. T. Nicholson and I. Shaw (eds), Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology (cambridge, 2000), 121–47.


chronology could be established by looking at the ceramic material from the whole auger, i.e. the whole stratigraphic sequence. during the study of fragments throughout the auger, a running commentary was made including any changes in the ceramic assemblage that might indicate artefactual information, chronology, or articlast data (e.g. changes in abrasion providing important points within the sequence). They in numerous instances corresponded to changes in the sedimentary sequence (facies) that were independently observed.

The ERT results

Fourteen erT profiles were surveyed at a number of locations on the West and east bank at Thebes. The numbering of the 2012 profiles takes into account the presence of three profiles surveyed in 2008 around Karnak as part of the project which preceded ThaWS. as a result the first profile of the 2012 season is profile 4.

Table 1 Electrical Resistivity Tomography profiles, length, depth, and resolution

erT profile No.Surface length of profile (m)

Spacing of probes (m)

No. of levelsapprox. depth of profile (m)

p4 714 3 13 19.5

p5 276 2 13 13.0

p6 63 1 20 10.0

p7 111 1 16 8.5

p8 126 2 16 17.0

p9 264 3 13 19.5

p10 102 2 15 15.0

p11 528 3 13 19.5

p12 126 2 13 13.0

p13 99 1 13 6.5

p14 828 4 16 32.0

p15 552 4 16 32.0

p16 645 3 11 16.5

p17 660 4 10 20.0

Profile 4p4 runs from the western side of the small village to the south of the ramesseum, through the main street, along the side of a dirt track, and terminating close to the line of a modern canal (fig. 1). The aim was to gain an understanding of the floodplain and interface with the desert edge and also to identify any channel that might be running parallel to the desert edge that may have linked temples on the West bank. It was also intended to investigate whether a ‘modern canal’ marked by Wilkinson 17 on his 1830 map crossing the axis of the ramesseum could be detected. results of the survey indicated the presence of the village and the limestone bedrock in the first 50m of the profile. at c.158–177 m along the profile a ‘cut’ feature 8–9 m deep has been infilled with high resistance material.18 This area is still within the extent of the modern village with houses extending on the north side of the profile until c.190 m along the profile. Wilkinson’s map has been geo-rectified by alban-brice pimpaud as part of his

17 J. G. Wilkinson, Topographical Survey of Thebes, Tape, Thaba, or Diospolis Magna (london, 1830).18 See processed p4 image in a. Graham, ‘Investigating the Theban West bank Floodplain’, EA 41 (2012), 22.


Fig. 1. locations of erT profiles, auger site aS35, and magnetometry area m1 in the floodplain in front of the royal cult complexes of Tuthmosis III (TIII), amenhotep II (aII), ramesses II (rII),

and amenhotep III (aIII) (background image: © Googleearth).

ongoing research on the West bank. he kindly provided a .kmz file of the geo-rectified map which we are able to use as a layer in Google earth and arcGIS. our feature correlates extremely well with Wilkinson’s ‘modern canal’ and it seems likely that it was filled in as the village expanded. The sinuous nature of the canal marked on Wilkinson’s map and the depth of infill are intriguing. It predates the modern irrigation pattern, and deserves further attention in future seasons. beyond this, the upper 5 m of the profile presented low resistivity readings, which suggest alluvial Nile muds. between c.480 and 624 m along the line of the profile, a large area of higher resistivity readings was visible to within 4–5 m of the surface. between 540 and 573 m, higher resistance readings were recorded to within 1 m of the ground surface. Wilkinson’s geo-rectified map shows a rectangular feature measuring c.120 m by 65 m described by Wilkinson along with other features as ‘halfeh grass, showing the sites of ancient buildings’ lying across the profile approximately between 473 and 604 m.

Profile 5The zero of p5 is located 554 m along profile 4, c.385 m from the front of the ramesseum pylon, and c.90 m south of the axis of the temple (fig. 1). p5 runs south to north perpendicular to p4 and was carried out principally to cross the axis with the aim of locating any evidence of archaeological features aligned with the axis. It was intended to provide further comparative evidence for the results from p4. alluvial muds were predominantly indicated along almost


all of the profile. however, in the first 30 m of the profile a series of higher readings was visible from the ground surface to the full depth of the profile, sloping down to the bottom of the profile at c.60 m along it, correlating to the high resistance readings recorded in p4.

Profile 6p6 was carried out along a 63 m long portion of profile 4 and centred approximately across the line of the dewatering trench, which lies at c.270 m along p4 (fig. 1). laying out the probes at 1m intervals, we aimed to detect what resistance profile was produced by the excavation of the trench at this level of detail. The profile suggests the presence of a low resistivity feature located approximately 30–35 m along the profile sandwiched between areas of higher resistance, which appears to represent the dewatering trench.

Profile 7p7 is located c.180 m from the colossi of memnon and carried out perpendicular to and crossing the central axis of the royal cult temple of amenhotep III (fig. 1). We aimed to assess potential archaeological deposits related to the temple axis. The profile shows a very shallow spread of modern material and topsoil, and then c.4–6 m of low resistivity values probably representing alluvial muds. The southern part of the profile indicates a much deeper area of low resistivity running to the deeper portion of the profile, centred on 22 m along the profile, which may suggest the presence of a channel at this point.19 This appears to be aligned approximately to the south side of the axis between the colossi of memnon. Further topographic work and hand augering are required to clarify this tentative interpretation.

Profile 8p8 was carried out along the same line as profile 7 on the same day starting at the same zero (fig. 1). The electrodes were set at 2m spacing for comparison, and to gain greater depth of reading, aiming to add further context to the high resistance readings observed in the raw data of profile 7 lying between 35 and 75 m along that profile. The readings taken at 2m horizontal and 1m vertical intervals lost some of the subtlety of readings in the processed p7 profile, but it reflected the low resistivity anomaly in p7 and the lower higher resistivity deposits, but not to the same height as in p7. It demonstrates the value of undertaking erT at different resolutions along the same profile, particularly where areas of special interest occur.

Profile 9p9 extended from close to the first pylon of the royal cult temple of Thutmose III and ran eastwards across the floodplain (fig. 1), to assess the potential presence of two almost circular features marked as ‘m2’on Wilkinson’s map to the east of the pylon. These features potentially represented vestiges of structures associated with a tribune in front of the temple. The profile indicates generally low resistivity as with other profiles in the area. however, high resistivity readings at the start of the profile suggest the edge of the bedrock. Two other high resistivity anomalies, one located at c.40–69 m along the profile and the second located at 85–110 m might suggest possible mounds or related archaeological deposits. The first of them also fits well with the northernmost feature on Wilkinson’s map, which lies c.40–72 m along the profile. additional investigation was planned in this area to clarify the textual and pictorial evidence associated with the temple, but further access to the land was not possible. We hope to return to clarify the initial findings and survey the area using magnetometry and Ground penetrating radar as well as further erT profiles and augering.

Profile 10p10 was a short 102 m long profile, due to restricted access to cultivated fields and boundaries, situated across the axis of the royal cult temple of amenhotep II (fig. 1). The profile indicates low resistivity readings along its southernmost section, consistent with the values noted in profile 11 where profile 10 abuts it. between 28 and 40 m along the profile, on the south side of the temple axis, an area of high resistivity measurements (‘high resistance feature’ or hrF)

19 See processed image of p7 in Graham, EA 41, 22.


is visible some 1–3 m below the modern surface. Immediately north of this hrF is a high resistivity area up to the surface seemingly indicating an area of disturbance of material, with low resistance readings below suggesting fine sediments. These high resistance anomalies may all relate to the presence of sandy sediment or archaeological material.

Profile 11p11 aimed to identify any channels that might have run parallel to the desert edge linking temples on the West bank with each other, and also as a comparison to p4 providing some context between the desert edge and the floodplain around the ramesseum (fig. 1). The profile shows variable resistivity values from the edge of the bedrock at 0 m into the floodplain. The low resistivity values in the upper part of the profile contrast with two high resistivity peaks, stretching from 90–110 m and 160–190 m, from the base of the profile to 72 m a.s.l. i.e. approximately 3m below the modern surface. The depth of these features suggests they are coarser/sandier deposits than the surrounding material, but this needs to be tested. one of Wilkinson’s features, sub-rounded in shape, cuts across the profile at 120–170 m along its length, but does not reveal any high resistance. It may be that there is little or no archaeological activity associated with this feature in the landscape. a third peak of high resistance rising to about 69 m a.s.l. (6m below the surface) is located in the profile stretching from 320–340 m. The area in between seems to be interspersed with low resistivity features. They conceivably represent a series of channels in the river floodplain present long before the dynastic period.

Profile 12p12 aimed to provide comparative data for the results of profiles 4, 5, and 11 (fig. 1). The principal anomaly was an area of high resistivity running from 40–65 m in the profile length, at a depth of 5–6 m from the surface, at c.70 m a.s.l. This potentially indicates sandier deposits. The high resistance readings from 1–3 m below the surface between 3 and 18m along the profile require further investigation to clarify their nature.

Profile 13p13 was undertaken in collaboration with hourig Sourouzian and the ‘colossi of memnon and amenhotep III Temple conservation project’ team across the Second court of the amenhotep III’s royal cult temple (fig. 1). It aimed to test rainer Stadelmann’s hypothesis that a canal may have existed to transport the first pair of colossal statues to their position at the then front of the temple. as the temple expanded they came to mark the entrance to the third pylon. The presence of a large 6 m deep in-filled feature was represented as high resistivity measurements from 8 m to 32 m in the profile to a depth of 69 m a.s.l.20 To the north a short section of low resistivity readings was replaced by deeper high resistivity measurements running from 32 m to 55 m in the profile at a depth of 71 m a.s.l. suggesting sandy deposits, possibly similar to those deeper deposits found in profiles 7 and 8. a small channel of low resistivity readings was located at 64 m in the profile. excavations carried out by Sourouzian’s team in front of the third pylon have revealed a cross-section of an in-filled channel c.45 m from the line of p13. The channel base is at 73.2 m a.s.l., which is exactly the same height as the whitewashed floor found in the first court and cannot therefore be contemporary with the temple construction. The channel is 16 m wide and filled to a depth of 74.2 m a.s.l. The unscoured base of the channel, and its locally flat bottom, suggests an anthropogenic origin. The channel fill is composed of cobbles and pebbles of white and yellow sandstone, some diorite, sherds, calcite, and flint, randomly oriented although arranged in layers. The fill possibly occurred in two episodes and the uppermost layer appears to dip locally westwards suggesting it was dumped by people facing the third pylon. Further investigation of these features will be undertaken in future seasons.

20 See processed image of p13 in Graham, EA 41, 22.


Profile 14p14 was carried out running from west to east starting close to the area of the cFeeTK offices, proceeding through the area between the ptolemaic and roman baths currently under excavation by the mSa, then through the gate cut by henri chevrier. The profile runs 70–80 m to the north of the amun-re temple axis and again goes through a gate apparently constructed by chevrier to the east, terminating just short of the road to the east of Karnak (fig. 2).

Fig. 2. locations of erT profiles and auger sites aS39–40 at Karnak (background image: © Googleearth).

21 d. b. redford, ‘Interim report on the 20th campaign (17th Season) of the excavations at east Karnak’, JSSEA 18 (1988), 36–47; S. orel, ‘The 1988 Season at east Karnak: pre-akhenaten levels’, in d. b. redford, S. orel, S. redford, and S. Shubert, ‘east Karnak excavations, 1987–1989’, JARCE 28 (1991), 90–9.

This long, deep profile aimed to contextualise our previous geoarchaeological and geophysical work at Karnak, and further our understanding of its geomorphological origins and development. The erT profile generally appears to show a number of sand bodies below the temple of Karnak interspersed with Nile muds (low resistance readings). While the results of p14 need further ground-truthing, we have been able to match up a number of the high resistance readings with features that the profile crosses. Within the amun-re enclosure we passed directly to the south of the gate of ramesses III, and high resistance correlates with where the foundations of the gate would be. high resistance readings also occur behind the line of the embankment wall suggesting that the archaeology extends to the north of the current limit of the excavations of the ptolemaic baths. To the east of the Nectanebo Wall, as with profile 2 carried out in 2008 at North Karnak, the recent fill of the legrain (chevrier) drain emerges clearly. Immediately east of the Nectanebo enclosure there is clear evidence of a slope with a high resistance feature to the west and low resistance readings to the east. This most plausibly represents a palaeo-channel filled with deposits. The sloping deposits accord with the interpretation of the earlier excavation results of the canadian mission in this area of east Karnak.21


Profile 15p15, located across the complex at Karnak running in a locally north to south direction and cutting the line of p14 (fig. 2), aimed to assess the deposits under Karnak temple, for comparison with p14 this season, and p3 and auger aS33 from the 2008 season.22

low resistivity measurements along the first 130 m of the profile corresponded to the area north of the main temple. Some high resistivity measurements are then located in the next 30 m of the profile to a depth of 34 m. massive and deep high resistivity values are then represented from 190 m to 300 m in the profile corresponding the area from the central axis through the bubastite Gate and towards the southern block yard. a shallower area of high resistivity occurred from 440 m to 520 m (corresponding to the area parallel to the extent of Khonsu temple), which appears to correlate with the archaeological deposits observed in 2008 revealing the extent of past occupation of this area under the modern block yard.

Profile 16p16 was located across the entrance to birket habu stretching from the village of Naj‘ raml al-aqaltah in the south to within 40 m of the modern edge of the village of Kom al-bi‘irat, both of which lie on ancient spoil mounds (fig. 3).23 The profile aimed to identify any possible canals cut to link the basin with the river. The upper deposits indicated low resistivity to a depth of 4–5 m suggesting Nile sediments.24 below this was an increase in resistivity suggesting coarser-grained deposits. however, these higher resistivity features are punctuated by slightly lower resistance readings. of these, two areas indicated deeper low resistivity readings: from 80–100 m the low resistivity deposits to a depth of c.12 m suggested a channel or canal; and between 480 and 520 m a shallower broader low resistivity area indicated a possible channel. Further parallel profiles and augers (in addition to aS36–38, for which see below) across this area are required to clarify these initial findings.

Profile 17p17 started north of the village of al-Gubahi Sharqi crossing the north-eastern corner of the rectangular feature (fig. 4) first marked on the Description de l’Egypte maps as ‘village ruine’ and ‘hippodrome’,25 now thought to represent a pendant birket to that of birket habu.26 high resistivity values in the northern portion of the profile occurred to 320 m along its length, crossing the mound. however the resistivity readings were only a little lower in the area within the mounds suggesting a mix of materials. There was no evidence for any channels, and lower resistivity readings found in the other profiles suggest finer alluvial sediments were absent from the results. It is unclear what these results represent and further work is required.

Results of the magnetometry (M1)Following the results from erT profiles 4 and 5, a magnetometer survey in the field adjacent to p5 and close to p4 was undertaken to further contextualise the near-surface high resistance readings (fig. 5). The 0.1-hectare survey (m1) took place in a field of burnt sugar cane stubble prior to ploughing. a number of linear and discrete features were indicated, located between 0.5 m and 2 m below the modern ground surface. a linear negative anomaly (m1.1) and (m1.2) measuring 90 m in length and 4 m across suggests the line of an irrigation/drainage ditch. a broad positive linear anomaly (m1.3) and (m1.4) measuring 32 m by 7 m indicates a possible broad ditch filled with anthropogenic material. This predates all of the other anomalies and

22 Graham, EA 36, 25–9.23 Kemp and o’connor, IJNA 3, 121.24 See processed image of p16 in Graham, EA 41, 22.25 respectively m. Jacotin, Carte topographique de l’Égypte et de plusieurs parties des pays limitrophes (paris,

1821), pl. 5; e. F. Jomard, Description de l’Égypte, ou recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’armée française, II: Planches. État moderne (paris, 1817), pl. 1.

26 W. r. Johnson, ‘monuments and monumental art under amenhotep III: evolution and meaning’, in d. b. o’connor and e. h. cline (eds), Amenhotep III: Perspectives on his Reign (ann arbor, 1998), 77.


Fig. 3. locations of erT profile 16 and auger sites aS36–38 across the entrance to birket habu (background image: © Googleearth).

Fig. 4. location of erT profile 17 across the Ne corner of the rectangular elevated feature now marked by expanding villages (background image: © Googleearth).


Fig. 5. Greyscale image of the magnetometer survey (m1) results from the area to the east of the ramesseum, and the interpretation plot derived from the results.


also closely coincides with the edge of the ‘rectangular feature’ marked on Wilkinson’s map in this area (see profile 4). Surrounding these anomalies are some broader discrete anomalies, probably associated with sedimentary deposits across the floodplain. Two positive linear anomalies (m1.5) and (m1.6) indicate modern field boundaries over the area. Several broad discrete anomalies (m1.7), (m1.8), and (m1.9) are spread to the north, suggesting differential floodplain deposits. These are all cut by a series of linear positive anomalies (m1.10)–(m1.13) all marking recent field boundaries. Several broad, discrete positive anomalies (m1.14) and (m1.15) with a broadly west to east alignment also mark deeper differential sedimentary deposits across the area.

Auger results

AS35having established that the p4, p5, and m1 results correlate with the rectangular feature on Gardner Wilkinson’s 1830 map, we aimed to ground-truth these observations and carried out aS35 in an irrigation ditch 1.97 m along profile 5. The base of the ditch was at 74.83 m a.s.l. and we augered 6.77 m down to 68.06 m a.s.l. In the upper 1.2m well sorted, muddy medium and sometimes fine sands were observed. The sands may be derived from degraded sandstone. abundant pebble-sized clasts (up to phi -6) of rounded yellow sandstone occurred in the upper 40 cm. below this smaller yellow sandstone clasts up to phi -4 were found. limestone clasts occurred throughout the unit. other major clast species found were concretions, quartz, and sherds. The uppermost high resistance measurements observed in p4 and p5 were probably produced by these large clasts. The following 0.6 m (73.61–73.01 m a.s.l.) was characterised by barren, moderately sorted medium-fine sand, which may represent levée deposits. In the samples extracted between 73.01–71.14 m a.s.l. a well-sorted, muddy medium-fine sand with abundant rhizo-concretions and other clasts e.g. limestone, quartz, ceramic fragments, flint, granite, dolerite, sandstone, and mud-balls, occurred. between 71.64–71.44 m abundant decomposing ceramic fragments, with a large amount of charcoal and a calcisol at ~71.2 m, were noted. a calcisol is a soil profile common in arid and semi-arid climates, the primary characteristic of which is the presence of calcium carbonate nodules as root encrustations. These nodules (calcrete) form as groundwater rich in caco3 is drawn to an arid surface by evaporation and evapo-transpiration.27 as the water evaporates the dissolved carbonate crystallises out and is deposited approximately 30cm below the ground surface. We believe the calcrete horizon encountered may represent an extended dry period when the ground was less inundated, since the calcrete takes some time to form—at the very least, tens of years—and requires fairly consistent net evaporation (as opposed to infiltration, which would re-dissolve the carbonate). There were only 55 ceramics fragments >4 mm found in the auger. most of the sherds cannot be dated with accuracy, either because they are too small or extremely rolled, or too common over long timespans. however, within this unit they were generally less rolled and mainly mKNK (middle Kingdom to New Kingdom), including nine fragments of Nile clay al8/p1 and one al1/p6 bread mould fabric found in the sediment sample between 72.64 and 72.42 m a.s.l. one specific NK sherd (marl clay p16/p17) was recorded in the sample immediately above the calcisol. The next 2 m contained stiff well-sorted very fine sands, with abundant rhizo-concretions and other minor clasts of various types (as unit 3), becoming less stiff below 70.26 m. In the bottom 1.05 m (69.11–68.06 m a.s.l.) well-sorted micaceous medium and fine sands with very little mud occurred. rhizo-concretions are found throughout the unit. a few plants growing on clean medium-fine sands suggest either a levée environment close to a channel, a sandy island in a channel, or point bar deposits.

27 G. Nichols, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (2nd edn; chichester, 2009), 148; G. Nichols, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (oxford, 1999), 124–6.


AS36–38auger Sites aS36–38 were all carried out along or within a few metres of p16. aS36 is located 181m along the profile commencing at 75.11 m a.s.l. and ending at 67.71 m a.s.l. aS37 was carried out 115 m along p16 starting at 75.26 m a.s.l. and terminating at 70.3 m a.s.l. aS38 is located 501 m along the profile at a ground level of 75.3 m a.s.l. and ending at 67.4 m a.s.l. Three augers produced facies suggesting possible channel sands, levée deposits, and proximal channel deposits. Further augering is required for clarification. Importantly, calcisol development was present in two of these three augers (aS36 at ~71.4 m a.s.l. and aS38 at ~71.6 m a.s.l.). These findings support those in aS35 at similar heights suggesting a land surface that experienced little or no addition of water from the inundation for a considerable period of time. They may be areas of higher ground in the floodplain or possibly represent a period of lower inundations. Finer chronological resolution and further context are required to clarify these findings. all three augers contained only small numbers of ceramic fragments >4 mm and many were well rolled. however, most of those in both aS36 and aS37 can be dated to the mKNK and especially the New Kingdom with the presence of marl clay p16 and p17, corresponding to marl a3 in the vienna system; the white slip covering the outer surface being typical of the New Kingdom (white slip only occurring on the spiral decoration covering the surface of TIp and lp storage jars). Some small rolled fragments could only be given an mKrom chronological range in aS37, but the absence of any clearly post-NK fabrics commonly found in the Theban region in both augers supports the mKNK dating. most fragments in aS38 were not accurately datable, being either too small, extremely abraded, or of common fabric. a few sherds look more typical of the middle and New Kingdoms. however, in the upper part of the auger a fragment of marl a4 variant 2 with traces of quick wheel can be dated from the late Twenty-fifth dynasty to the early ptolemaic period.

AS39aS39 was undertaken at the base of a Sca/mSa excavation under the direction of mansour boraik on the south side of tribune in front of the first pylon, immediately behind the embankment wall. The height at the top of the auger was 70.85 m a.s.l., terminating at 67.0 m a.s.l. aS39 aimed to investigate local sedimentology and landscape change at Karnak, and specifically to better understand the process and timing of the embankment wall’s construction. The excavated sections demonstrated a late roman period cut made behind the wall, which may have been an attempt to get to a foundation deposit at the corner of the tribune and the embankment wall. Such practices have been observed in the temple of Karnak in several locations. unfortunately this hole may have destroyed any foundation trench that might have been present to the east of the embankment. The auger produced 485 sherds >4 mm. backfill into the excavation is seen down to 70.5 m. The following metre is a muddy, moderately sorted fine (sometimes very fine) sand with clasts of (in descending order of abundance) sandstone and concretions, sherds, quartz, and limestone. Small numbers of granite, dolerite, diorite, bone, flint, and shell fragments also occur. between 69.5 m and 68.3 m a coarser unit of muddy medium and fine sands was recorded, with an even greater variety of clast types. From 68.3 m to the bottom of the auger there is a unit of less muddy, fine to very-fine sands. From the top of the auger down to 68.86 m the ceramic fragments were mainly typical of the New Kingdom and should not be earlier than Thutmosis I. In the next 0.4 m the material is more middle Kingdom–New Kingdom in date and included two rim fragments of bowls in al8/p1 that fit this timeframe. below this, until the termination of the auger, ceramic fragments are less frequent and medium to medium-high rolled. From identified fabrics, the bulk of the material is from the middle Kingdom–early New Kingdom, for example fabric al8a in sample 14, well attested at Karnak from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth dynasties. other diagnostic sherds support this timeframe. Implications for the history of the tribune’s and embankment’s construction require further investigation.


AS40aS40 was undertaken 314 m along profile p14 and 6.4 m perpendicularly to local south from the profile close to the ramesses III gate north of the fourth pylon. It commenced at 74.71 m a.s.l. and terminated at 73.05 m a.s.l. due to an obstruction. It aimed to ground-truth p14 in this area and provide more information on the history of the Karnak landscape. The moderately sorted sediments and the range of clasts within the sediment which included ceramic fragments, sandstone, limestone, granite, dolerite/basalt, flint, rhizocretions, and bone are consistent with anthropogenic deposits that might be expected within the temple. 187 ceramic fragments >4 mm and up to 44.5 mm in size were sieved from the augered sediment. even though most of them were abraded, they remained relatively angular until the end of the auger. In the upper 1.3 m, the material was mostly dateable from the late Third Intermediate period–early ptolemaic period, with some later material (late roman amphora vII fragments) also recorded. a few sherds were also dated to the New Kingdom, especially a rim of a small open shape with a red slipped lip in al8/p1. In the lower 0.36 m, the material appears to date mainly to the New Kingdom. oolitic limestone, which is attested in workshops/settlements at Karnak from the middle Kingdom–early New Kingdom, was also found.

Conclusions

This season has produced a considerable amount of data, some being clearly understandable, while some requires further fieldwork to interpret properly. one of the most interesting results, clearly showing how all the elements of our methodology combine, is the location of the rectangular feature marked by Gardner Wilkinson on his 1830 map in erT p4 and p5, and in the magnetometry and aS35. The interpretation of this feature is unclear, but it is certain from pimpaud’s geo-rectification of the map that this is what we have observed. The efficacy of using erT to locate former channels and canals can be seen in: the identification of Wilkinson’s ‘modern canal’ in p4 below the village adjacent to the ramesseum; the channel found in the second court of amenhotep III’s royal cult temple seen in p13; and the recent fill in the legrain drain at Karnak (p14). In these cases the channel has been anthropogenically filled with material with much higher resistance than the surrounding sediment making the distinction very clear in the erT data. other channels that filled naturally are potentially more subtle in terms of the erT measurements, as the fill may produce similar apparent resistivity to surrounding material. erT profiles should be undertaken at different resolutions, and anomalies further investigated with the extraction of sediment through augering or coring. We plan to use Ground penetrating radar in future seasons as a complementary technique to the erT. birket habu is of major interest, and its further investigation is required to understand the ability of the egyptians to manipulate the floodplain. While three augers were undertaken to ground-truth erT profile 16, this area needs considerably more geophysical and geoarchaeological survey to clarify the past landscapes and waterscapes associated with the entrance to the basin, as does the basin itself to test the extent of amenhotep III’s vast project. The work at Karnak has added a great deal more complexity to the geomorphological history of the site, and appears to confirm the channel to the east of the temple complex that we had interpreted from our earlier work and from that of other colleagues. Further work at Karnak is required to provide further understanding of the complex geomorphological and archaeological history of the site.

Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Survey, 2012

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Transcript of Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Survey, 2012